Lara Tooby
Current position
Senior Archaeologist at Umwelt.
Where did you study?
The Australian National University (Masters of Archaeological and Evolutionary Science) and University of Sydney (Bachelor of Arts (Archaeology and Anthropology) with Honours (Archaeology)).
How did you become interested in archaeology?
I have always had an interest in the human past but became nutso over archaeology in my second year of University. I was undertaking a broad arts degree as I was interested in a lot of different subjects; one of those was archaeology. Then in my second year, I participated in the University of Sydney Archaeology Society (ARCHSOC) camp and met some consulting archaeologists, and immediately knew that this was what I wanted to pursue.
What archaeological projects are you working on at the moment?
Currently, I am working on multiple projects assessing the impact of proposed works by various proponents (including water corporations, solar farms, and developers) on Aboriginal cultural heritage in NSW.
Tell us about one of your most interesting archaeological discoveries.
Besides doing contract archaeology in Australia, I have also done excavations with the Near Eastern Archaeology Foundation (The University of Sydney) in Pella, Jordan. One really memorable discovery was olive pips in Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age - thousands of years ago. Whenever I discovered a pip, I knew it could provide important information on some of the earliest olive oil plantations in the world, potentially having huge implications in terms of surplus wealth and the development of cities and fortifications. My favourite archaeological finds are those that can answer questions about the Human Past.
Tell us about a funny / disastrous / amazing experience that you have had while doing archaeology.
I wrote out a story but then realised I might be breaching some confidentiality clauses! I have had some fantastic experiences for which I am very grateful, and also had a few mishaps on the way.
What’s your favourite part of being an archaeologist?
Finding (and preserving) meaning through investigation of the human past.
Follow up reading.
A great book on archaeology in Australia (concerned with Aboriginal cultural heritage) has been written by Billy Griffiths (Deep Time Dreaming) (https://www.blackincbooks.com.au/books/deep-time-dreaming). This provides a great sense of how far archaeology in Australia has come.